The German Shepherd Gene Study tracks the
recessive "masking" white and recessive black genes forward through the
generations.

Genes come in different varieties, called alleles. Somatic cells contain
two alleles for every gene, with one allele provided by each parent. Often, it
is impossible to determine which two alleles of a gene are present within an
dog's chromosomes based solely on the outward appearance of that dog. However,
an allele that is hidden, or not expressed by, can still be passed on to that
dog's offspring and expressed in a later generation.

German Shepherds can carry one or both of the recessive white "masking" and/or
the recessive black gene.

(A
masking gene masks the real color and pattern of the dog. The only way the gene
can be expressed in some of the offspring is if both parents carry it. For
example, when a white dog is bred to a non-white dog that does not carry the
white gene, none of the offspring will express the white coat but they will be
carriers of the white gene. If those offspring are bred to a white, some of
their offspring will express the white coat color. White bred to white will
always produce white offspring.)

German Shepherd artwork on this site created by AHEAD Graphics.
Visit their site for more talented artwork and custom designs.

The German Shepherd Dog Database Project makes no guarantees as to the accuracy of the data published at this site. We have made every effort to verify all entries,
but the German Shepherd Dog Database Project is not a registry so all data included has been submitted by dog owners or taken from registry reports and AKC Stud Books.
Please
contact us to report any errors or omission.